Does anyone have any recommendations for what model/type of overhead projector works best for projecting my artwork on the wall for a semi large quilt? I want the edges to be sharp so I can trace them accurately - but don't want to spend more than I have too since I'm not projecting small text or anything like that. Any help is greatly appreciated : )

You might check with your local office supply store about renting one for a day if you will only be using it once or twice. If you will be using it often, then buying would be your best bet.

I've not seen the one from Michael's but that is definitely a much lower price than the Apollo brand ones I'm familiar with...of course those I've dealt with have been for the schools, so they get rather frequent heavy duty useage and are over $300.00.

I have one of the cheaper ones and don't use it much anymore. What I do is I have a printer that has a scanner and scan the image to the computer. I have software program that I can enlarge the image and make it sharp. If anyone is interested in the projector I'd be willing to sell it for 1/3 of the cost.

thanks - I'm thinking that the small ones at Michaels are not very sharp and would not enlarge enough for me if it's the small box style.... I've had bad experiences with low end small models...I really want a good one like the ones in schools or art studios - but there is such a range in price and lens' that I'm not sure how good it needs to be to create a large image and a reasonably sharp one. I do know a teacher - she's not an art teacher - but she may be able to tell me the specs on the ones they use that are clear and reproduce largely on the wall. I'll have to ask her....I just thought some other art quilters may use them and have specific models they are happy with.

The overhead projector that I have I bought when I was teaching. The model is Horizon. I know that I don't use it much right now but I plan on it. I believe the original price was approx $90 but I have had it over 10 years.

Don't waste your money on the cheapo projectors. They do not have the resolution you need and the one I have will only accept a 4 x 6 original. I use my scanner and then print the picture out at the correct size and have my printer tile the pages. This gives a 1/4 inch overlap and I then carefully align each page and tape them on the back. Has worked out well for me so far.

I use my scanner and then print the picture out at the correct size and have my printer tile the pages. This gives a 1/4 inch overlap and I then carefully align each page and tape them on the back. Has worked out well for me so far.

hmmm interesting, can you elaborate on this a bit more scow?.. I'm technically challenged lol... So you scan the image, which your printer would normally just print out..Do you somehow increase the image size on your printer? Which would then cause it to print it out in multiple pages?

Grapesky, I use a few projectors to assist me with some of my murals..The sm one from Micheals is hard to balance and get it level enough to keep your image strt.. As with most projectors, the further back you pull it from the wall ( to make the wall image larger) the less sharp the image as well as distorting the accuracy of the wall image.. It also gets HOT quick= buckles your paper image ( draw fast and turn it off to cool occasionally.. The over all wall image wont be that large but, would probabluy work for you if you just needed a quick 1-2ft image.
I have better luck with my Prism projector by artograph... however, it's more expensive and you still encounter the same problems just not as bad..Your wall image will be larger and sharper..It's easier to balance ( also can get a tripod for it)..Your paper image can still only be about 7 inches in size and you still need to let it cool occasionally...
I've also heard good things about overhead projectors but I dont own one.

All in all, for what you need it for..I'd suggest trying scowlkats method or taking it to kinkos and have them help you increase your image to the size you need.. Then transfer the image to the wall/where you need it, via tracing paper

Does anyone have any recommendations for what model/type of overhead projector works best for projecting my artwork on the wall for a semi large quilt? I want the edges to be sharp so I can trace them accurately - but don't want to spend more than I have too since I'm not projecting small text or anything like that. Any help is greatly appreciated : )

What about trying the local library. Another suggestion, if you won't be using it a lot, try your local public school or college if you are near one . Almost every school here in my town has an overhead projector. Your local school might be willing to let you use an empty room or wherever they use it after school sometime. If you have a college nearby, they would most likely have one in their art dept..We used ours all the time when I was teaching for enlarging patterns for school projects. I never did use one for my quilting, because I wasn't doing that much when I was teaching.